IMAGE DECONSTRUCTED: Summer Vibe

This set is for a swimwear editorial and the location was in a private villa with a pool. The shoot was around 3-5 pm so I needed to make sure I have the right equipment for this shoot.

Gear:
2x Sony A7rii

FE ZA 35mm 1.4

Batis 85 mm 1.8
Broncolor Move 1200 + Beauty Dish
Macbook pro 15″

For all my editorial shoot, I always make sure that my camera it’s tethered to my Macbook in order for the clients to know what images they’re getting right away. Also, it’s best to see the images on a computer than just relying on the LCD of your camera.

BTS shot. This is the time you do test shots and socialize with your model. The more you connect with the people on the set, the easier for them to feel comfortable with you as a photographer.

For the frame, I chose a spot where the background is dark to give a pop to your subject. Choosing a bright background isn’t really the best for this scenario since she’s already wearing something bright. We must also consider why we picked a pool for the location so we must include that in the shot.

When shooting on location, the sun is also a light you can add to your set. Most of my shots are backlit using the sun giving my subjects a rim light effect.

Sony A7R II, FE ZA 35mm 1.4 , @ F/5.6, 1/125 sec, ISO-100

The image above is one of the shots which works but I felt like it’s still missing a few details for the background. I wanted to get the sky into the frame too. The subject is lit with broncolor move 1200 pack with a beauty dish as a modifier. If there’s no artificial light on this set, the subject will be underexposed because I have metered the exposure based on the background.

Image above was only taken with a phone, apologies for the quality.
I just needed to tilt my camera upwards to get the sky into the frame.Sony A7R II, FE ZA 35mm 1.4 , @ F/5.6, 1/125 sec, ISO-100

I’m much more satisfied with this frame due to certain elements:
1. I got the sky in the shot.

2. The presence of lens flare/sensor flare and ghosting.

The spot right above her head is called a red dot flare. The red dot flare is not just light getting reflected by lens elements and diaphragm, but also light getting reflected from the imaging sensor to the lens, then back to the imaging sensor. Unfortunately, it seems like the newer mirrorless cameras with short flange distances are particularly prone to this problem.

The added flare creates a more natural feel to the image. Photographers see it an issue but for me it’s an added element. It’s like looking at someone where the sun is just behind that person giving you a blinding effect where you need to squint your eyes just to see the person’s face.

3. The sunglasses make the model look cool.

Once you have the setup done then you can just swap models before moving to another set. Sony A7R II, FE ZA 35mm 1.4 , @ F/5.6, 1/125 sec, ISO-100

Other images from this set:

Sony A7R II, ZA 35mm 1.4, F/4, 1/125th sec, ISO-100

I use the Batis 85mm 1.8 for a more tight shot. This gives more focus on the subject and less on the background.Sony A7R II, BATIS 85mm, F/2.2, 1/1250 sec, ISO-160

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Sam Coran is a Dubai-based Photographer.
Sam has worked as a Studio Manager for 3 best E-commerce in the region. He established photography guidelines, managed creative shoots, campaigns and has works published in the form of advertising billboards, editorial print and online creative that drove traffic into the business.
Sam is a self-taught photographer. In a short span of time, he managed to widen his network and build a name on his own. He does a lot of photography consultations for businesses that would like to move into E-commerce.
On his free time, he’s out on a date with his wife or just home playing RPG games on his ps4.